Papers of the Week

Portal pneumatosis is considered as an ominous radiologic sign if it is associated to intestinal ischemia. If sepsis is present, mortality reaches 80-90%. However, in inflammatory disease or infections survival rates are close to 70%. With the aim to reconsider the poor prognosis associated with portal pneumatosis, we would like to present the case of a 63-years-old male who went to the emergency room with abdominal pain and peritoneal irritation. Urgent surgery was indicated, findings were: an area of transmural necrosis located in the antimesenteric sigma's face, and patchy necrosis of the colonic mucose. A Hartmann`s procedure was performed. Nowadays, the pacient underwent surgery for restoration of the continuity of the GI.